Alfama Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Alfama Cardigan in Berroco Regatta

What Is Being Made

The Alfama Cardigan is a beginner-friendly knitted cardigan designed by Amy Christoffers. This garment features a distinctive construction method where the sleeves and yoke are worked in one continuous piece from side to side, beginning at the right sleeve cuff and ending at the left sleeve cuff. The lower body section is then picked up and worked downward to complete the cardigan. The finished cardigan is available in seven size options, ranging from 36 inches to 60 inches bust measurement (closed), with corresponding length measurements from 16¾ inches to 19¾ inches. The garment is designed with approximately 4–6 inches of ease for comfortable wearing.

Techniques Used

This knitting project employs several fundamental techniques suitable for beginner knitters. The construction begins with ribbing at the sleeve cuffs, which provides elasticity and a finished edge. The pattern utilizes decreasing and increasing techniques to shape the sleeves and yoke sections as they are worked horizontally. Stockinette stitch forms the primary fabric of the garment, creating a smooth, classic appearance. The side-to-side yoke construction is a notable technique that simplifies the fitting process by allowing the knitter to work across the entire upper body in one connected piece rather than assembling separate components.

Stitches Used

• Knit 2, Purl 2 Ribbing (k2, p2): Used for the sleeve cuffs to create an elastic, fitted edge that helps the cuffs stay in place
• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The primary stitch used throughout the body and sleeves, created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side
• Purl 2 Together (p2tog): A decreasing technique used to shape the garment and reduce stitch counts at specific intervals

Materials and Tools

This cardigan is knitted using Berroco Regatta yarn, a durable and versatile fiber choice. The project requires 3 to 5 balls of yarn depending on the selected size, with each ball weighing 100 grams. The specific colorway shown in the pattern is #9561 Maritime. Knitting needles in two sizes are required: size 10 (6.00 mm) needles for the ribbed sections and size 11 (8.00 mm) needles for the stockinette stitch sections. A 29-inch circular knitting needle is used for this project, which accommodates the side-to-side construction method and allows for the management of a larger number of stitches as the yoke is built. Achieving the correct gauge is essential: 11 stitches and 15 rows should measure 4 inches in stockinette stitch on the larger needle, while 12 stitches and 16 rows should measure 4 inches in k2, p2 ribbing on the smaller needle.